Kickstarter

Hello friends,

Today I launched my Kickstarter campaign for my new album "Strong Medicine." In case you haven't heard of  Kickstarter, it was created in 2008, is what is now called “crowd funding” where the general public, or backers, contribute money towards at different levels in exchange for rewards. Rewards could be a copy of the finished CD, their name in the liner notes or a house concert  and is quickly becoming a very popular way of raising money for projects as varied as recording or releasing a CD to films, inventions and books. 

Artists, inventors, musicians etc. develop a campaign and a funding goal with a precise deadline to raise the money for their project. Kickstarter is an "all or nothing" model which means if your backers don't contribute 100% of your funding goal then you receive nothing. It can exceed the goal amount and all the funds go to the project. Different levels of "rewards" are an incentive to backers and are fulfilled once the project is completed, in this case once the CD is manufactured and released. The contributions are processed through Amazon.com and aren't processed until after the goal is met. If the goal isn't met then nothing happens and your contribution isn't processed. Very simple.

I'm personally inviting you to check out my Kickstarter campaign at http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/randygranger/pre-order-strong-medicine-the-cathartically-joyous  and take a look. Decide if you want to support my CD project and then contribute at the level you want. That is all you need do. This CD won't be released without your help so please contribute what you feel you want to and can and share share share it with your circle of friends and family. If you know anything about the inspiration behind this CD you know it is coming from my heart and a place of healing, humility and gratitude. I hope people who hear the music on this CD will find comfort in knowing that grief and loss can be transformed, through music, into joy and release. I am so excited about this new music and have recorded 3/4ths of the album. 

If you have any questions feel free to email me directly or post your question on my Kickstarter page. The whole concept about Kickstarter is transparency. Something I believe in as well especially as I'm mining my experiences and transmuting personal emotions into universal songs that anyone who has experienced unconditional love, loss, fear and surrender will relate to. 

Thank you very much for your support and for contributing to get this music out into the world where it belongs. Click here http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/randygranger/pre-order-strong-medicine-the-cathartically-joyous to contribute and support my project.

Who is listening?

Greetings friends. I hope summer finds you all well and in good spirits. Me, I'm working very diligently on my new album. I'm writing the songs, laying the tracks, asking in a guest musician or two and designing the artwork all simultaneously. It has me thinking about who is listening. Who is the music for? Who will hear it? Will anyone listen to the nuances and micro decisions each song's story tells? Recently while playing at Hospice I was slowly walking up and down the hallways so my flute would resonate in each room. It was quiet less the sounds of beeps and occasional TV sets broadcasting daytime shows. As I was packing up my gear to leave I feel a touch on my shoulder and a small woman says, "Thank you so much for being here. You might think no one is listening but every time you come my husband's face is so relaxed the whole time and his breathing is so peaceful." This stuck with me for days. That Saturday I went Busking at our Farmer's Market and the cacophony there is overwhelming especially now that so many hollering groups are there now. They play somewhere between Hillbilly music and a warped bluegrass. I love good Appalachian and Bluegrass don't get me wrong. It is tough to be heard on my Native American flutes and Pan instruments, almost impossible. The vendors have begun to complain they can't even do business when those groups are there.

So I was Busking away and between songs a vendor came up to me with a dollar bill. She put it in my case and began to walk away then turned around suddenly. She said, "I'm sorry, I was going to compliment you but I started to cry. When you played Amazing Grace I thought of my mother who passed away recently. It was so moving and I wanted to thank you." Another woman in one of those motorized wheelchairs rigs came zooming right at me pretty fast. I thought oh no I've pissed someone off. But she waited until I finished and said, "I wanted to tell you I've been up and down this entire market and asked someone where that flute music was coming from and they pointed to you. I had to come back and tell you you are the best music I've heard all morning. Thank you." She put a buck in. Woo hoo big bucks. haha. I'm kidding but what these two people reminded me that in fact, someone is always listening. Thus is the power of the music we make, the vibrations we emit so always be conscious of that and respect your audience. You may not be able to see them but they ARE listening.

Near Ramah, NM photo by Laura Hall

I will give you a chance to Pre-Order the new album/CD which is called "Strong Medicine" very soon with incentives and rewards.......stay tuned and check back please.

I have some upcoming shows in June in North Carolina. Please let people you know in those areas know about the shows. Of course if you live in the Chapel Hill area of North Carolina please come yourself and bring lots of friends.

• June 16, Las Cruces, NM 1PM, Southern NM Pride, Pioneer Park, Downtown Las Cruces
• JUNE 21-24,   Handpangea near Asheville, NC Gathering of fans, enthusiasts and players of the Pan family of instruments like the Hang, Halo, Bells, SPB, etc.  Randy Granger concert Friday night, June 22nd. at Laughing Waters Retreat Center near Asheville, North Carolina 
• June 26th  - Covenant Place 103 Culbreth Rd Chapel Hill, NC 27516. 3PM Randy Granger performs for the Summer Bash.  Private show. 
• JUNE 26 - Carrboro Century Center 100 N. Greensboro St. Carrboro, NC, 7 - 9 PM. www.carrboro.com/centurycenter.html $6. Randy Granger in concert. 

Thank you for reading and for your support. Much peace and prosperity to you always. Be sure and "Like" me as they say on FaceBook.
Randy

Live performance from a recent show.
Enjoy